The US Air Force takes over the first Boeing KC-46A Pegasus Tanker

(To Boeing)
10/01/19

The US Air Force took delivery of the first Boeing KC-46A Pegasus Tanker aircraft, laying the groundwork for delivering the plane to the McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita, Kansas, in the coming weeks.

“The KC-46A is a proven and safe multi-mission aircraft that will transform aerial refueling and displacement operations for decades to come. We look forward to working with the Air Force and Navy during their initial operational tests and evaluations of the KC-46 as we continue to demonstrate the operational capabilities of this next generation aircraft in the refueling field. mobility and armed combat mission systems, ”said Leanne Caret, president and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space & Security. "I want to thank the men and women of the Air Force and the entire Boeing Tanker team who made this possible."

During the numerous flight tests, six KC-46 have completed over 3.800 flight hours and supplied more than four million pounds of fuel on A-10, B-52, C-17, KC-10, KC-135, KC aircraft -46, F-15E, F-16 and F / A-18. The Pegasus has been rigorously tested in all aspects of the refueling cistern and in all conditions, including day, night and undercover.

By signing the so-called DD250 document, delivery operations can proceed. McConnell Air Force Base will receive the first four KC-46 aircraft, all of which are ready for delivery, and subsequently four aircraft destined for Altus Air Force Base in Oklahoma, starting from the beginning of next month.

Boeing is under contract for 52 of 179 tankers planned for the Air Force. In addition to the first aircraft delivered today, nine aircraft are carrying out customer acceptance testing, while the remaining aircraft included in the contract are in production.

“This is a historic and exciting day for the Air Force and Boeing, a day in which we deliver the first of many KC-46 Tankers,” said Boeing Chairman, President and CEO Dennis Muilenburg. “I am proud of the dedication and commitment shown by our entire team and we are honored to provide this valuable and highly capable aircraft to our customer. We look forward to continuing to build and support the KC-46 for the Air Force - and other customers around the world - for decades to come. "

The KC-46, derived from the commercial structure of the Boeing 767, is produced at the Boeing plant in Everett, Washington.